CC Minutes - 06/18/01 Work Session

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assume that the loss of residences would need to be made up from somewhere. He asked if the residents of the proposed expansion area were college students. Mr. Johnson said the City did not know the socio-economic characteristics of the residents, but thought Mr. Fart was probably correct. Mr. Farr said that if such people ended up moving to the periphery they would increase vehicle miles traveled by traveling to the University of Oregon. Mr. Johnson concurred. Responding to a question from Mr. Farr regarding traffic conditions near the university, Mr. Johnson thought conditions at both potential locations needed to be improved and would have to be worked on in the case of expansion. Mr. Farr noted his residence in west Eugene, and said "it sure is hard to get to Sacred Heart from my house." Mr. Farr asked whose definition of "downtown" put PeaceHealth "downtown." Mr. Johnson said that negotiators had interchangeably termed the hospital as being downtown, the core of the city, or the Hilyard campus. He concurred that technically, PeaceHealth would not be normally defined as being downtown. Mr. Farr suggested in that case, PeaceHealth should not be referred to as being downtown. He asked how far from the eastern city limits the hospital was now. Mr. Johnson was not sure; he estimated two miles. Mr. Farr expressed concern about the process that brought the council to this point. He asked how the negotiating committee was formed. Mr. Johnson clarified that the negotiating group was not a council subcommittee. The council had directed him to meet with PeaceHealth, and he had invited Ms. Bettman and Mr. Kelly to join him in the process because they represented the wards that were the present site and potential site of the hospital. Mr. Farr said he "really had a problem with that." Mr. Johnson said that he took that approach knowing that whatever resulted would require full council approval. Mr. Farr reiterated his objections to the process. Mr. Kelly asked Mr. Terrett for clarification of the number of beds to be added. Mr. Terrett indicated that the board was attempting to realize a once-in-a-century vision in terms of future facilities; the hospital's facilities renewal plan called for redesigning the hospital "as we know it" in a way that was more efficient than the current configuration. Mr. Kelly asked that the hospital provide projections of future bed numbers. Mayor Torrey asked if there had been an ODOT traffic study to determine the impact of a new hospital north of the Beltline. Mr. Johnson said no. Mayor Torrey asked if the hospital considered using the hospital-owned property on Willamette Street for expansion. Mr. Terrett explained that the property in question was not large enough for the hospital's purposes, and the cost of expansion at that site would be higher and the impact on traffic greater. Mayor Torrey asked what would happen if the voters turned down a September measure. Mr. Johnson speculated the hospital would proceed to file a conditional use permit for the Crescent property. Mayor Torrey asked the source of the City's funding in the cost-share. Mr. Johnson said that the council would have a work session on possible sources. Mayor Torrey asked Mr. Terrett if PeaceHealth would maintain an emergency room in the downtown campus equal to the facility in place now. Mr. Terrett said no. He said that the downtown facility would lack a trauma surgeon to handle a Level 2 trauma. He confirmed all helicopters and ambulances would go north. Mayor Torrey asked what would be lost in tax revenue from the property to be condemned. Mr. Johnson indicated staff would provide that information at the next work session. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 18, 2001 Page 6 Work Session